Letter to the Editor: Rest stops and restrooms

CLEARLAKE OAKS -- At the present time, our nation's health has improved as to the amount of time we now live.

It was not that long ago that a person reaching their 70s was great.

Now, a fairly large segment of our nation's seniors live far into their 80s and 90s.

Another part of our great health is the use of our taxpayer dollars in building bike and running paths in our parks and along our roads.

Exercise areas in our parks for adults is a great addition for greater health also.

One thing where we have failed to recognize as a positive for good health is the lack of benches in our communities.

We encourage our seniors to walk more and stay active for better health.

But we fail to understand the need for places for those same seniors to have a place to rest at far shorter distances then those younger than themselves.

A public bench at least place every two blocks in a community would find more of our seniors out walking more than what is being done at this point in time.

Seniors would enjoy walking more if they have a place to stop and rest from time to time.

They also would enjoy a degree of socializing while using the benches during their needed rest stops.

A second issue that keeps far more seniors home-bound than any other, is the fact that their bladders need far more relief than when they were younger.

I wonder if, the business community could be brought into helping with this issue by being offered a fair tax break for allowing seniors to use their restrooms when needed.

In the past, the number of gas stations offering restrooms for the public to use has decreased greatly over the years.

Seniors above a certain age could be given a card or button to wear, letting retail and office locations that offer such use of their restrooms that their need is a just one, and maybe a decal on their windows letting seniors and all citizens of a community, that they are practicing good citizenship in doing so.

Restroom supplies might even be offered free by the county or community clubs, as support for such a service.

Lake county is home to a large senior presence and it is fair to say, the seniors do bring a sizeable share of taxes paid in support of so many other services the county has put in place for all age groups.